Women continue to give more to charity than men and the traditional street tin collection is still the most popular way to make a charitable donation, according to the results of a survey published today.

Medical research has the widest support, with 24.4% of people questioned saying they donated. Children and young people came second, attracting 21.6% of charitable support, the annual survey by the Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) and the National Council for Voluntary Organisations showed.

According to the research, the number of donors who contributed £50 or more to a charity has gone down slightly between 2002-03 from 5.1% to 4.7%.

However, charity supporters have become more organised, with more people making a donation through a direct debit or standing order - 16.8% chose these methods to give in 2003 compared to 15.3% in the previous 12 months.

The research also showed that the proportion of people giving to charity has dropped slightly during the same period from 67.3% to 65.8 % and the average monthly charitable donation also fell during 2002-03 from £13.89 to £12.32.

Commenting on the results, CAF director of research, Cathy Pharoah, said: "It would be nice to ask the government to look at how donations through street collections could have some kind of tax benefit."

Its chief executive, Stephen Ainger, added: "Frankly, giving to charity and supporting your community must become one of our priorities - not just an add on."

The results of the survey come a fortnight before the annual CAF conference in London on November 11, which is being held under the banner Making a giving community - creating a sense of citizenship.

Speakers include the chairwoman of the Charity Commission, Geraldine Peacock, and the charities' minister, Fiona Mactaggart.